NOTE: Majestic Steel USA President and CEO Todd Leebow said the United States long has been on the losing end of a trade war waged by countries like China that violate international trade agreements.

“While today’s proclamation will help protect American steelworkers from illegal dumping and circumvention schemes, the fight for our industry is only getting started,” Leebow said. “I look forward to continued work with Administration officials to develop a long-term plan that ensures the success of America’s steel industry and the downstream manufacturers bolstered by its work.”

The steel industry is applauding the Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs of 25 percent on foreign steel, except from Canada and Mexico and potentially other U.S. allies.

“For far too long, steel imports have been allowed to undermine America’s steel strength,” U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt said. “Our national security is only as strong as American steel. President Trump’s action will begin to level the playing field for the security and manufacturing strength of the United States.”

Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul said he hoped “the era of American trade surrender is coming to an end.”

“Steel and aluminum workers are already being hired back, and as the result of stronger industries we believe these will be the first of many new jobs created in America’s manufacturing communities,” he said.

Paul said tariffs were direly needed as employment in the domestic steel industry has fallen by a third since 2000 and 10 blast furnaces have been taken offline.

“We expect these tariffs to lay the groundwork for a stronger economy and industrial base. And we are confident that steel consumers, most of whom are agile, profitable and flush with cash from the recent tax cut, can navigate this new landscape if importers choose to raise prices,” Paul said. “It can’t end here, though. We must also invest in infrastructure with American steel, ensure American pipe is better utilized in our domestic energy renaissance, and renegotiate trade agreements fairly.”

The United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard said unfair trade, such as dumping heavily subsidized steel products below fair market value, has been threatening America’s industrial base and good-paying jobs.

“For decades, the USW has fought foreign unfair and predatory trade practices to protect our members’ jobs and ensure a strong defense industrial base. From missiles and munitions, to motors and machinery, steel and aluminum are critical products used in direct military applications and in critical infrastructure,” Gerard said. “For too long, common sense has fallen prey to free trade ideology, multinational corporations and special interest lobbyists who have profited at the expense of domestic production and employment. Trade cheating has, all too often, gone unanswered by our government. That’s had a crippling effect on good, family-supportive jobs and our ability to provide the needed products.”

Majestic Steel USA President and CEO Todd Leebow said the United States long has been on the losing end of a trade war waged by countries like China that violate international trade agreements.

“While today’s proclamation will help protect American steelworkers from illegal dumping and circumvention schemes, the fight for our industry is only getting started,” Leebow said. “I look forward to continued work with Administration officials to develop a long-term plan that ensures the success of America’s steel industry and the downstream manufacturers bolstered by its work.”